34 VARIETIES OE FOX-IIOUNDS. 



hounds. That a great variety of hounds existed 

 in the reigns of Ehzabeth and James the Pirst 

 may be gathered from the quaint old Markham, 

 who flourished as a good authority in those times, 

 on sporting and veterinary subjects. 



" If you would have your kennel for sioeetnesse 

 of cry, then you must compound it of some large 

 dogges, that have deep solemn mouthes, and are 

 swift in spending, which must, as it were, beere 

 the base in consort; then a double number of 

 roaring and loud ringing mouthes, which must 

 beere the counter-tenor ; then some hollov/, plaine, 

 sv/eete mouthes, which must l^eere the meane or 

 middle part; and so with these three parts of 

 music, you shall make your cry perfect. And here- 

 in you shall observe that these lioimds thus mixt 

 do run just and even together, and not hang off 

 loose one from another, which is the vilest sight 

 that may be ; and you shall understand that this 

 composition is best to bee made of the swiftest 

 and largest deep-mouthed dogge, the slowest 

 middle-sized dogge, and the shorter-legged slender 

 doo'gc. Amongst these you cast in a couple or two 

 of small singing beagles, which, as small trebles, 

 may wacke amongst them. The cry vrill be a great 

 deal the more sweeter." 



The cjuotation from this patriarchal sportsman, 



